By Dasun Edirisinghe

UPFA constituent parties yesterday said that they were ready to continue their struggle with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as their leader even as a new political force if the SLFP opted out of the alliance.

Addressing the media at Abhayaramaya temple in Narahenpita, former Minister Wimal Weerawansa said President Maithripala Sirisena’s underhand acts in the run-up to the election was reason for the defeat of his own alliance.

The NFF leader said that they would function as the Opposition in Parliament though several UPFA MPs were likely to accept ministerial portfolios in the UNP led government.

Actually, it would not be a national government as all the parties represented in Parliament would not be part of it, Weerawansa said.

Asked who would be the opposition leader of next Parliament, he said they would propose a person when Parliament met on Sept. 01.

Asked whether his name had also been proposed for the post, Weerawansa said there was no truth in that and he, too, believed he was not the right person for the post.

Although former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had declined to accept the post, he (Rajapaksa) would have to accept it if a majority of opposition MPs asked him to, the NFF leader said.

Asked whether former General Secretary of the UPFA Susil Premajayantha had played a double game Weerawansa said: “We don’t know whether Premajayantha played a double or a triple game, but we hear he is going to accept a ministerial portfolio.”

Commenting on the accusation that five National Freedom Front members had entered Parliament with the help of Rajapaksa, Weerawansa said all 95 UPFA MPs entered Parliament thanks to former President Rajapaksa.

Former Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had not pasted posters with President Maithripala Sirisena, Weerawansa said. “His posters too had the pictures of President Rajapaksa.”

Weerawansa said that they would work according to a novel plan for the forthcoming local government polls if the SLFP pulled out of the UPFA, he said.

Weerawansa accused the government of appointing a jumbo cabinet having been critical of the size of the Cabinets under President Rajapaksa.

Former Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara and Colombo District MP elect Udaya Gammanpila also spoke at the media conference.

Courtesy:The Island